Donald Trump has left the Republican Party, an aide told CNN today, rekindling speculation that the real estate mogul and reality television star is preparing to run for president next year as an independent.

Michael Cohen says Trump changed his voter registration on Thursday from Republican to “unaffiliated.” He said Trump is “disgusted with the way Republicans are handling” the payroll tax cut extension and their actions were partly to blame for his party change.

The move comes less than two weeks after Trump backed out of moderating a Dec. 27 debate in Iowa. Only Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum had agreed to participate in the debate.

At the time, Trump issued a statement blamed GOP presidential candidates’ worries that he might run as an independent.

For his part, Trump has refused to rule out a possible bid if he is unhappy with the party’s eventual nominee.